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Second year of science remains a mandate
Advocates of strengthening – or at least not weakening – the teaching of math and science won a partial victory in the final budget that Gov. Brown signed last week. A second year of science for high school graduation remains a state mandate, at the Legislature’s insistence, contrary to Brown’s proposal to make it optional. However, it’s not among the mandates that will be eligible for a block grant reimbursement of $28 per student – at least not as long as the cost of the program is tied up in litigation. The administration contends that the methodology for calculating the $250 million cost for reimbursing districts for second-year science – an IOU that’s been mounting up – is flawed. Two years of lab science remains a requirement for admission to a … Read entire article »
Filed under: California Colleges, Featured, Quick Hits, State Budget, STEM
Multiple bills to reform school discipline laws get hearing in Sacramento
A major legislative push is underway to reform California’s laws governing school discipline. A half dozen bills intended to do just that will be heard today in the state Senate and Assembly education committees. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Reporting & Analysis
Not one, but two 160-day minimum years
Trailer bill permits cutting 3 more weeks to school year for next two years Call it a last-minute clarification or a June surprise, another piece of bad news: A trailer bill that the Legislature will vote on Wednesday permits districts to slash the school year by an additional three weeks for the next two years, if voters reject Gov. Brown’s tax increase in November. That’s twice what Gov. Jerry Brown seemed to suggest in the May budget revise when he proposed the elimination of 15 days divided over a two-year period. Instead, the Legislature is prepared to authorize a 160-day year, likely the lowest in the nation and far behind other advanced nations; nearly all states have a 180-day year, which California also required before 2010. In one sense, nothing has changed. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Funding and Taxation, Revenue and taxes, Student spending
Some school districts try to fill growing summer nutrition gap
School’s out, but Riverside Unified’s food services department is not closing down. “Hunger doesn’t take a vacation, and neither do we,” said Rodney Taylor, director of nutritional services for the district. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Reporting & Analysis
Expanding the role of community colleges in adult school programs
As school districts throughout California make major cuts or consider abandoning their adult schools, advocates for adult education programs are searching for ways to prevent their demise, including a possible heightened role for community colleges. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adult education, Community Colleges, Reporting & Analysis
AP results indicate impressive gains for state’s top students
June 27th, 2012 | Add a Comment
By Michael Kirst ~ EdSource Extra
There is some good news in California student achievement trends. High performers, as measured by passage of the Advanced Placement exam, are increasing, and rank very high in interstate comparisons. AP is college level work in high school, and indicates that students attending California’s most selective colleges are better prepared than ever. This positive trend is obscured by national studies, like the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), that do not focus on the highest achieving … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commentary, Equity issues